Granby, Quebec Explained

Granby
Official Name:French: Ville de Granby
Settlement Type:Town
Image Blank Emblem:Logo Granby.png
Blank Emblem Type:Logo
Motto:Pour y parvenir (To get there)
Pushpin Map:Canada Southern Quebec
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in southern Quebec
Coordinates:45.4°N -116°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Canada
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Name1:Quebec
Subdivision Type2:Region
Subdivision Name2:Estrie[1]
Subdivision Type3:RCM
Subdivision Name3:La Haute-Yamaska
Established Title1:Constituted
Established Date1:January 1, 2007
Government Footnotes:[2] [3]
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Julie Bourdon
Leader Title1:Federal riding
Leader Name1:Shefford
Leader Title2:Prov. riding
Leader Name2:Granby
Area Footnotes:[4]
Area Total Km2:156.10
Area Land Km2:152.72
Area Urban Footnotes:[5]
Area Urban Km2:90.53
Area Metro Footnotes:[6]
Area Metro Km2:396.52
Population Total:69025
Population As Of:2021
Population Density Km2:194.4
Timezone:EST
Utc Offset:−5
Timezone Dst:EDT
Utc Offset Dst:−4
Postal Code Type:Postal code(s)
Postal Code:J2G-J2J
Area Code:450 and 579
Blank Name:Highways
Blank Info:

Granby is a town in the southwestern region of Quebec east of Montreal. According to the latest statistics from the 2021 Canadian Census, Granby has a population of 69,025. It is the administrative center of La Haute-Yamaska Regional County Municipality and is the second most populous city in The Eastern Townships after Sherbrooke. The town's name is derived from John Manners, Marquess of Granby. One of the town's main attractions is the Granby Zoo, and its well-known Lac Boivin fountain, also a notable landmark of the area. The mayor, Julie Bourdon was elected on November 7th, 2021, being the first female mayor of Granby.

History

Granby’s terrain, frequently characterized as a natural prairie, historically dotted with natural meadows and a rich tapestry of forests, was home to a variety of trees such as ash, fir, maple, hemlock, and birch. Not far from these woods, a small swamp could be found, nestled a short distance uphill. Over time, This land was traversed by Indigenous peoples, whose presence was intertwined with the area’s nomadic history.[7] [8]

In 1792, the Eastern Townships were officially opened for colonization by Loyalists. Subsequently, on January 29, 1803, Colonel Henry Caldwell and his 97 associates were granted the Township of Granby by the Executive Council of Quebec. The township’s first settler, John Horner, arrived in 1813 and established a sawmill adjacent to the Yamaska River. By 1825, Horner, in partnership with Richard Frost, expanded his enterprise to include a general store. That same year, Frost was responsible for drafting the township’s official plans.[9]

Granby received official incorporation as a municipality in the year of 1816, marking its status as a town in 1971.

Field areas have been exploited for agricultural use and the North Yamaska river's flow has been used for its hydraulic energy since the construction of a first dam in 1815 by large industrial companies; the use of dams along the stream has provoked the formation of a large shallow swamp, called Lac Boivin, often cited as one of Granby's landmarks.

In May 2006, the citizens of Granby and Granby Township held a referendum on a possible merger. A majority of citizens of the two municipalities approved the merger, which took effect on January 1, 2007.[10]

Geography

Granby is a flat region located approximately halfway between Montreal and Sherbrooke along Autoroute 10; historically a land covered by forests and prairies, it has transformed into an urbanized core surrounded by fields and suburban neighborhoods. The North Yamaska river, which crosses lake Boivin (this lake took shape after the construction of a series of dams and later changed into a large swamp praised for its biodiversity. It connects to nearby villages by a network of roads and has two access points from the highway at exit 68 (through Saint-Alphonse-de-Granby) and 74 (via Bromont).

Parks and green spaces

Granby has many parks and fountains, including the Daniel-Johnson, Victoria, Terry Fox, Miner, Pelletier, and Kennedy parks.

Climate

Granby has a humid continental climate[13] (Dfb). It has significant variations of temperature with four distinct seasons. Summers are warm but short and winters are very cold. Transitional seasons have significant variations of temperature between adjacent months. Precipitation is quite high, resulting in rainy summers and snowy winters.

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Granby had a population of living in of its total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of . With a land area of 152.69km2, it had a population density of in 2021.[14]

In 2021,[15] 92.5% of the population were white/European, 5.5% were visible minorities and 2.0% were Indigenous. The largest visible minority groups were Black (1.8%), Latin American (1.6%), Arab (0.8%), and West Asian (0.5%).

91.8% of residents spoke French as a mother tongue. Other common first languages were English (2.1%), Spanish (1.6%), Arabic (0.6%), and Persian languages (0.4%). 1.0% of residents listed both French and English as their mother tongues, while 0.4% listed both French and a non-official language.

69.0% of residents were Christian, down from 87.2% in 2011.[16] 61.6% were Catholic, 4.3% were Christian n.o.s., and 1.4% were Protestant. Other Christian denominations and Christian-related traditions accounted for 1.6% of the population. Non-religious and secular people were 28.9% of the population, up from 11.3% in 2011. 2.1% of residents followed other religions, up from 1.5% in 2011. The largest non-Christian religion was Islam (1.7%).

+Mother tongue language (2021)
LanguagePopulationPct (%)
French only62,15091.8%
English only1,4352.1%
Both English and French7051.0%
Other languages3,0254.5%

Economy

Granby is a regional centre for industries (textile, lumber, dairy products) and commercial zone, but is also a tourist town, due to the presence of the important Granby Zoo, founded by the Mayor Horace Boivin. It hosts a Fête des Mascottes ("Mascot Festival") each year in July.

Attractions

Granby is the host of the yearly "Festival de la chanson de Granby" ("Granby Song Festival") in which many well-known artists, such as Jean Leloup and Luc De Larochellière, have first gained public exposure.

The international classic car show takes place at parc Daniel-Johnston, with over 2500 antiques, vintage, hot rods, muscle cars and classic imports cars every summer.Granby's annual classic car show

Granby is also home to the Galeries de Granby regional shopping mall which has 106 stores.[17]

The Autodrome Granby, one of Canada's largest dirt oval racing tracks, hosts professional racing teams every Friday night from May to September. Winner of many prizes Autodrome Granby is known worldwide in the racing community.

Sports

Granby is the location of the annual Challenger Banque Nationale de Granby of the ATP Challenger Tour, which takes place at the Club de Tennis des Loisirs de Granby.

The Granby Inouk of the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League are based in Granby. The Inouk play their home games at the Leonard Grondin Arena.

Granby is also home to the Ligue de Baseball Senior Élite du Québec's Granby Guerriers. The Guerriers play their home games at Napoléon Fontaine Stadium.

From 1981 to 1997, Granby was home to a QMJHL team, originally called the Granby Bisons but changed to the Granby Prédateurs in 1995. The team won the Memorial Cup in 1996. In 1997, the franchise relocated to Sydney, Nova Scotia and became the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. Both teams played at Léonard Grondin Arena.

Infrastructure

The public transit department of the town is Transport urbain Granby. Until 1956, it was the eastern terminus of the Montreal and Southern Counties Railway's Montreal-Granby Line.

Sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Canada. Granby's twinned are:

Notable people

See also

External links


Notes and References

  1. Web site: La Haute-Yamaska et Brome-Missisquoi entrent dans le giron de l'Estrie. La Tribune. 8 July 2021. October 15, 2021.
  2. Web site: Ministère des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l'Occupation du territoire: Granby . 2012-03-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130929050902/http://www.mamrot.gouv.qc.ca/repertoire-des-municipalites/fiche/municipalite/47017/ . 2013-09-29 . dead .
  3. Web site: Parliament of Canada Federal Riding History: SHEFFORD (Quebec) . 2009-04-20 . 2009-06-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090605062128/http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Sites/LOP/HFER/hfer.asp?Language=E&Search=Det&Include=Y&rid=677 . dead .
  4. http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=2447017&Geo2=PR&Code2=24&Data=Count&SearchText=Granby&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= 2011 Statistics Canada Census Profile: Granby, Quebec
  5. Web site: 2011 Statistics Canada Census Profile: Granby, Quebec (population centre). 2012-10-22. 3 November 2012.
  6. http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CMA&Code1=450&Geo2=PR&Code2=24&Data=Count&SearchText=Granby&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&GeoLevel=PR&GeoCode=450&TABID=1 2011 Statistics Canada Census Profile: Granby (Census agglomeration), Quebec
  7. Web site: Le lac Boivin, 1815-1980. Gendron. Mario. July 14, 2014. SOCIÉTÉ D'HISTOIRE DE LA HAUTE-YAMAKS. Société d'histoire de la Haute-Yamaska. March 16, 2016.
  8. Web site: Société d'histoire de la Haute-Yamaska. Société d'histoire de la Haute-Yamaska. 2016-03-16.
  9. Mario Gendron, Johanne Rochon et Richard Racine, Granby : Patrimoine et histoire, Société d'histoire de la Haute-Yamaska, 2009, 154 p.
  10. https://archive.today/20120709213833/http://lcn.canoe.com/lcn/infos/regional/archives/2006/05/20060529-112050.html La ville et le canton de Granby fusionnent - LCN - Régional
  11. Web site: Parc Victoria. Commission de toponymie Québec. Commission de toponymie Québec. March 17, 2016.
  12. Web site: L'Atelier 19 transforme le parc Miner en galerie d'art communautaire publique. Tassé. Michel. October 6, 2011. LA VOIX DE L'EST. La Voix de l'Est. March 17, 2016.
  13. Web site: Granby, Quebec Canada Climate Summary. Weatherbase. 20 April 2015.
  14. Web site: Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), Quebec . . February 9, 2022 . August 29, 2022.
  15. Web site: Government of Canada . Statistics Canada . 2022-02-09 . Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Granby, Ville (V) [Census subdivision], Quebec ]. 2023-01-14 . www12.statcan.gc.ca.
  16. Web site: Government of Canada . Statistics Canada . 2013-05-08 . 2011 National Household Survey Profile - Census subdivision . 2023-01-14 . www12.statcan.gc.ca.
  17. Web site: Les Galeries de Granby. 2007. The Westcliff Group of Companies. 4 December 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20111023201533/http://www.westcliff.ca/include/centres/gal_granby_en.php. 23 October 2011.
  18. Web site: Coventry's twin towns and cities – Granby, Canada. Coventry City Council. 2020-06-13.
  19. Web site: Our Twin Cities. City of Windsor. 2020-06-13. 2018-02-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20180228161615/https://www.citywindsor.ca/cityhall/committeesofcouncil/Advisory-Committees/International-Relations-Committee-(IRC)/Pages/Our-Twin-Cities.aspx. dead.